Methods, Devices and Compositions to Enable to Flavor of Smoking Articles Including Tobacco and Marijuana

ABSTRACT

A device may flavor a smoking article via diffusion. Preferably, the device for flavoring a smoking article includes a support and a composition containing a flavor provided on or in the support, the composition containing the flavor being configured to be vaporizable. A method for flavoring a smoking article, includes inserting a support in a container, the support having a composition containing a flavor provided on or in the support, the composition containing the flavor being configured to be vaporizable, and providing at least one smoking article in the container.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a non-provisional application of and claims benefit of the filing date of prior filed provisional application No. 61/845,456 filed Jul. 12, 2013, the content of which are incorporated herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As with any consumable-consumer product, flavor is a key component of tobacco enjoyment for the smoker. Altria's Marlboro® markets its product as “where the flavor is”—reflecting both Altria's commitment to distinct flavor profiles for its crown jewel brand, and the importance of flavor for the consumer of the various types Marlboro® cigarettes.

As discussed infra, the art of flavoring manufactured smoking articles like cigarettes has a history that is oriented towards robust flavor, consistency in flavor (from one product to the next), stability in flavor (meaning that flavor will not dramatically change over the reasonable stocking life of the product—so as to avoid or minimize “stale” product), and efficient flavor application (because flavors are expensive and thus not to be used more than necessary).

However, it has also come to pass that government regulators are increasingly taking a harsh view towards the flavoring of smoking articles. For example, in the United States, the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (2009) banned the use of characterizing flavors in manufactured cigarettes (although the Act has initially allowed menthol flavoring to continue). As a result, manufactured flavored cigarettes like for example clove cigarettes (known as Kreteks) disappeared overnight. As of the filing of this patent application, many expect the FDA's Center for Tobacco Products to restrict and to potentially ban the use of menthol flavorings in manufactured cigarettes. Such prospective regulatory bans are not limited to the United States. The draft European Union Tobacco Directive (2012) would, if adopted as proposed, ban all flavorings from manufactured cigarettes including menthol. No manufactured menthol cigarettes could be sold in the European Union.

Perhaps the primary rationale offered for flavor bans in manufactured tobacco products is the goal of reducing youth smoking (and other tobacco consumption). The premise is that unflavored tobacco is, akin to coffee, an “adult” taste, and that flavored tobacco articles may expose young people to tobacco even though such young people would naturally be repulsed (or at least less likely to enjoy) the “adult” flavor of tobacco.

One problem with such policy rationales is that it is hard to distinguish adult and youth tastes in a meaningful or precise way. If we took a group of fifty year old American men and a group of eighteen year old American teenagers, we would see broad consensus on a whole range of taste driven preferences: Ford's Mustang® is a neat car, Coca Cola® has great flavor, Kate Upton has a nice figure, and flavored consumer products are often better than unflavored consumer products. We could no doubt find technology-related distinctions between the groups: the younger group could no doubt text faster on their smartphones but there is enormous overlap from a consumer products perspective.

Now, the cynical might take the above observations to stand for the simple proposition that men never grow up, but the inventors believe similar comparisons could be made between disparately aged groups of American women. Brands are iconic, and consumer products are successful because to a large degree we like the same or similar attributes in the products we consume across the boundaries of age, gender, race, ethnicity, region, religion, political affiliation and the like. In the end however we must not regulate away freedom of choice. Psychologically, the inventors doubt that “the have it now” mentality of youth would be satisfied with the methodology herein contained, rather, only adult consumers would use the methods, compositions and devices herein taught.

Now, the term “manufactured tobacco product” is pointedly used above because generally speaking, US and international tobacco flavor bans apply and potentially apply to products made by manufacturers only and do not preclude individuals from flavoring their own tobacco products.

Now, this is not based on a technical loophole or “gotcha” reading of various statutes and proposed directives. Rather, this reflects an underlying libertarian dynamic that pervades our culture. Beechcraft® as a licensed manufacturer of airplanes faces safety and testing requirements for its aircraft that do not apply to a home built or experimental aircraft that you can make for yourself. I might—as an individual—elect use a vitamin or drug product for a therapeutic use that is not sanctioned by the FDA and for which a manufacturer could not legally sell its product. A commercial meat cutting operation is subject to USDA regulation and inspection; yet I can carve a lamb for my family in my own home without fear of government intrusion.

Individual choice is a hallmark of Western values and it is found throughout our laws and business culture. Individuals enjoy greater latitude to consume, modify and create products than manufacturers of finished goods who face more restrictive regulatory regimes. Libertarianism is a part (among many other parts) of our shared political, cultural and economic DNA.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for flavoring a smoking article via diffusion. Preferably, the device for flavoring a smoking article includes a support and a composition containing a flavor provided on or in the support, the composition containing the flavor being configured to be vaporizable.

The present invention also relates to a method for flavoring a smoking article, including inserting a support in a container, the support having a composition containing a flavor provided on or in the support, the composition containing the flavor being configured to be vaporizable, and providing at least one smoking article in the container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-1C show examples of flavoring devices of the present invention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show examples of flavoring devices for flavoring smoking articles in a cigarette pack-like container.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a system for flavoring smoking articles of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method for an individual to flavor smoking articles, e.g., tobacco articles, including cigarettes. The present invention relates to compositions to flavor smoking articles, e.g., tobacco articles, including cigarettes. The present invention relates to devices that are used to flavor smoking articles, e.g., tobacco articles, including cigarettes.

A review of the tobacco flavoring art provides context, and points to the need for, the present invention. As noted above, the art of flavoring manufactured smoking articles like cigarettes has a history that is oriented towards robust flavor, consistency in flavor (from one product to the next), stability in flavor (meaning that flavor will not dramatically change over the reasonable stocking life of the product—so as to avoid or minimize “stale” product), and efficient flavor application (because flavors are expensive and thus not to be used more than necessary). Furthermore it should be noted that this invention applies to THC and other base alkaloids, now for use as permitted and in the future for the flavoring of commercial variants.

So, it is useful to review the art relating to manufactured cigarette flavoring systems.

EP 1778031B1 (“Flavoring a Cigarette by Using a Flavored Filter Plug Wrap”) (Gonterman, assigned to Brown & Williamson and claiming 2004 priority, herein “Gonterman”) describes the then state of the art of cigarette flavoring: “Current methods of incorporating flavors into cigarettes involve spraying flavoring onto tobacco, inserting flavor pellets into the filter, inserting flavored string, injecting flavors into the filter, spraying flavoring onto the cigarette paper, or placing flavored strips inside the cigarette. Furthermore, certain cigarettes have filter segments which incorporate flavorants.” (paragraph 2).

Gonterman is concerned with the loss of volatile flavors during manufacturing, packaging and storage, which requires compensatory-over flavoring which is “costly.” (paragraph 3). He discusses the combination of a binding agent with a flavor, specifically citing Listerine® strips as an example of such combination and specifically cites U.S. Pat. No. 6,596,298 (a thin film patent). (paragraph 4). This area is particularly familiar to the current inventors, who are named inventors on numerous patents relating to thin film, including inter alia, U.S. Pat. No. 7,357,891, U.S. Pat. No. 7,425,292, U.S. Pat. No. 7,500,984, U.S. Pat. No. 7,666,337, U.S. Pat. No. 7,824,588, U.S. Pat. No. 7,972,618, U.S. Pat. No. 8,017,150 and U.S. Pat. No. 8,241,661. One of the present inventors has also been active in the smokeless tobacco area in US and US 2009/0095313 and US 2010/0326454.

Gonterman's proposed invention relates to a filter plug wrap comprised of flavor suspended in a binding agent: “The flavoring is incorporated, such as encapsulated or suspended, into the material used as a filter plug wrap for the cigarette filter, and the filter plug wrap concentrically wraps the cigarette filter. The filter wrap is degraded by the smoking process, such as heat and/or water vapor, thereby releasing the flavor.” (paragraph 8).

EP 0482587B1 (“Flavor Release Material and Method of Manufacturing Same”) (Cartwright et al, assigned to Kimberly-Clark and claiming 1990 priority to U.S. Pat. No. 601,160 “Diehl”) provides a nice summary—consistent with Gonterman's description—of prior art in manufactured cigarette flavoring systems (see columns 1-3). For consistent flavor delivery, Cartwright seeks to achieve complete adsorption of the flavorant into an active surface agent. “With the active surface agent fully saturated with flavorant, the active surface agent “locks in” the flavorant and it is not released until it is exposed to a known elevated temperature.” The flavorant/active surface agent mixture, which is made as a sheet, can be added as a plug to the mouth piece (i.e. filter) (See e.g. Example 2 in Diehl).

EP 2162023A2 (“Smoking Article with Controlled Flavor Release”)(Karles et al, assigned to Philip Morris Products SA and claiming priority to 2007 (“Karles”) provides for smoking articles with controlled flavor release. The controlled flavor release product includes a first time release flavorant and a second time release flavorant. The controlled release product is a film or a lip balm type formulation that is applied to the downstream end of a cigarette.

EP 2279677A1 (“Material Containing Flavoring Agent for Cigarette, Method for Production Thereof, and Cigarette”)(Tanaka et al, assigned to Japan Tobacco and claiming priority to 2008 “Tanaka”) provides for a flavor containing material in which a flavor is coated with a polysaccharide without need of addition of a gelling agent such as metal chloride. Tanaka is principally concerned with current methods of creating menthol cigarettes whereby menthol is sprayed on the cigarette tobacco. This can stain paper tube, and charcoal filters may capture flavor when the product is smoked and Tanaka is further concerned about flavor loss over time. (paragraph 2). Tanaka's invention includes casting a “flavor-containing material sheet [that] can be shredded and then added to cut tobacco.” (paragragh 15). Tanaka claim an improved shelf life for menthol in resulting smoke (see his FIGS. 1 and 2).

WO 2011117734A1 (“Cigarettes and filter subassemblies with squeezable oval flavor capsules and methods of manufacture”) (Karles et al. assigned to Philip Morris Products SA and claiming priority to 2010 “Karles”) seeks to address the volatility of flavor components through the use of an “oval capsule containing releasable additive materials” in the cigarette filter. Karles' invention is intended to promote flavor uniformity as well as reducing or eliminating loss of volatile flavors that may migrate to sorbents used in cigarette filters. For another case involving squeezable flavor capsules, see EP 1895863B1 (“Cigarettes and Filter Subassemblies with Sqeezable Flavor Capsule and Methods of Manufacture”)(Karles assigned to Philip Morris Products SA, claiming priority to 2005 “Karles”). Interestingly, Karles suggests that an advantage of the capsule-in-a-filter system is that flavor will not be lost to sidestream smoke—referring to loss of flavor in systems wherein the cigarette tobacco itself is flavored: “By incorporating the additive material in one or more capsules, in a filter, loss of flavor to side stream smoke is substantially reduced and less or none of the flavor is pyrolyzed during the smoking of the cigarette.” (paragraph 31).

US 2013/0019884 A1 (“Cigarette with Increased Volatile Flavor Delivery”) (Sashide et al assigned to Japan Tobacco and claiming priority to 2010 “Sashide”) describes a system wherein the distal portion of a cigarette includes a volatile, flavor containing material incorporated in a gel of a polysaccharaide, the center portion includes or does not include the volatile flavor containing material, and the proximal end portion includes or does not include the volatile flavor containing material. Shashide is principally concerned with menthol flavor stability (shelf life).

A different approach to achieving menthol and other flavor stability is suggested in EP 1803661 B1 (“Cigarette Package and Method of Manufacturing the Same”)(Tanbo, assigned to Japan Tobacco and claiming priority to 2005), wherein the “object of the present invention is provide a cigarette package capable of preserving aroma and favor of a cigarette bundle satisfactorily and extending a best-before date.” (paragraph 11). Essentially, Tanbo seeks to design a better cigarette back that will hold volatile flavors in better, yet still be easy to manufacture and easy for a consumer to use (i.e. open).

W02013054906A1 (“Method for Augmenting Component Providing Smoking Flavor for Tobacco Product, Tobacco Raw Material, Cigarette, and Cigar”) (Shinichi et al, assigned to Japan Tobacco and claiming priority to 2011 “Shinichi”) is directed to a reduction in manufacturing cost of a cigarette by reducing the required level of flavorant. Essentially, Shinichi attempts to reduce flavoring use by combining it with a plant sugar.

Each of the above patents and patent publications is fully incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein.

The above is intended to summarize and sample the art as respects the flavoring of manufactured tobacco articles, and cigarettes in particular. There are also some limited discussions about how consumers can flavor tobacco and marijuana products on their own, and now we turn to that art.

Wikihow has an article on how make your own kretek (clove) cigarettes located at http://www.wikihow.com/make-your-own-clove-ciqarettes/kretek. This discussion is initially directed to flavoring per se insofar as a true kretek cigarette involves smoking a mixture of both tobacco and cloves. So, this article is primarily directed towards how to mix cloves with tobacco, though it does suggest that flavors can be added directly to the tobacco mix (see step 7 from the above link). The user then makes a roll your own type cigarette, using rolling paper or placing the mix in a pipe (see step 10 from the above link).

Do it yourself flavors are offered for sale at http://www.qoneblue.com/tapudrflyoow1.htlml. The consumer is directed to pour the drops directly onto rolling papers or the tobacco itself for roll your own cigarettes. Presumably the reference to “your stash” also indicates that this method can be used for marijuana.

Another website similarly describes spraying flavors directly onto tobacco and then making a roll your own cigarette (or packing a pipe) (see http://www.cigreviews.com/forum/ryo-roll-your-own-cigarettes/2783-diy-flavoring.html.

These foregoing links are expressly incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.

Now, the inventors believe that none of this art is really suitable for use by consumers to flavor pre-manufactured cigarettes. Pre-manufactured cigarettes constitute the enormous percentage of cigarettes bought and consumed: very few consumers like to roll their own cigarettes—even when there was a huge tax incentive to use roll your own tobacco very few consumers liked this option. Today, even fewer consumers do today now that tax rates have been equilibrated in most jurisdictions. It should also be noted here that spraying tobacco with flavors and the resulting combustion/burning may create undesirable degradation products even where the spray is comprised of food-safe ingredients.

Similarly, once a cigarette is manufactured, the consumer does not have the luxury of changing the composition materially of the filter. For example, the consumer cannot readily insert a flavor capsule into the filter even with the aid of an insertion device.

It should also be noted that cigarette consumers like their packs. Consumers generally have very specific preferences as respects the type of pack (hard of soft) that best fits with their consumption habits and preferences. Virtually nobody—save the occasional urban dandy or a guest at a twenties-themed party will use a re-usable/decorative cigarette case.

Like any other consumer products consumer, the adult tobacco user seeks a maximum of convenience and a minimum of distraction.

What is needed is a method for a user to flavor manufactured cigarettes, preferably with a minimum of effort (for example, without need to remove the cigarettes from their package). This is the preferred embodiment that we teach in this application.

Diffusion Methods and Compositions

Now, flavor loss from manufactured tobacco products is typically understood to be a defect in loss of flavor potency of a manufactured tobacco product. In the present invention we affirmatively employ diffusion to transport flavor to a tobacco product as a way that allows flavoring without the necessity of direct physical application (e.g. spraying flavor on to tobacco).

For example, we can employ a flavor (preferably volatile or with a volatile base), which may be alone, formulated in a format or concentrated in but not limited to an absorbent material in proximity with the tobacco product and thereby transport flavor to the tobacco article. This can occur in a closed system. Energy, including heat may be used to encourage transport of the volatile.

However, before we discuss embodiments at length, some theoretical discussion of diffusion is helpful.

Fick's first law relates the diffusive flux to the concentration under the assumption of steady state. It postulates that the flux goes from regions of high concentration to regions of low concentration, with a magnitude that is proportional to the concentration gradient. Fick's second law predicts how diffusion causes the concentration to change with time.

The driving force of diffusion in Fick's law is the antigradient of concentration. In 1931, Lars Onsager included the multicomponent transport processes in the general context of linear non-equilibrium thermodynamics. For multicomponent transport:

${J_{i} = {\sum\limits_{j}\; {L_{ij}X_{j}}}},$

where Ji is the flux of the ith physical quantity (component) and Xj is the jth thermodynamic force.

The Maxwell-Stefan diffusion (or Stefan-Maxwell diffusion) is a model for describing diffusion in multicomponent systems. The equations that describe these transport processes have been developed independently and in parallel by James Clerk Maxwell for dilute gases and Josef Stefan for fluids. The basic assumption of the theory is that a deviation from equilibrium between the molecular friction and thermodynamic interactions leads to the diffusion flux.

For diffusion in porous media the basic equations are:

J = −D ∇n^(m) ${\frac{\partial n}{\partial t} = {D\; \Delta \; n^{m}}},$

where D is the diffusion coefficient, n is the concentration, m>0 (usually m>1, the case m=1 corresponds to Fick's law).

For diffusion of gases in porous media this equation is the formalization of Darcy's law: the velocity of a gas in the porous media is

$v = {{- \frac{k}{\mu}}{\nabla p}}$

where k is the permeability of the medium, μ is the viscosity and p is the pressure. The flux J=nv and for Darcy's law gives the equation of diffusion in porous media with m=γ+1.

The application of this theoretical understanding to the present invention is not a simple exercise.

The present inventors posit that diffusion will occur in part as a function of the concentration differentials between the flavor source and the tobacco article. Achieving a substantial differential in flavor gradient is straight-forward. However, the receptivity of the tobacco article to the flavor will depend in part on its porosity and particularly in the case of tobacco of its water content. Saturated tobacco will be more difficult to flavor, whereas drier tobacco is a natural absorbent that will be a better receiver of flavor than wet tobacco. Thus, ceteris paribus, it is easier to flavor relatively dry cigarette tobacco than, say, wet SNUS style tobacco.

Conventional cigarette filters—due to their porosity—are natural receivers of flavors via the diffusion methods described herein.

Now it is important that the flavor composition be prone to vaporize or turn to gaseous state. By this we mean that at least one flavor component in the composition be prone to vaporize (e.g., it is not necessary that the entire composition vaporize). This can be achieved through volatile, solvent-based compositions with high vapor pressure. Without limitation, alcohol (including ethanol) based compositions are desirable. Menthol crystals are particularly effective. Heat and other non heat energy can be used to encourage transition of the flavor composition to the vapor or gaseous state. Natural ambient heat—for example, placing the flavored product in front of a window or on a car dashboard may be used. Or, external heat sources can be used. The same principles of cool air misters can be applied to sublime flavor systems.

Vaporizers can be employed to vaporize the flavor composition. The vaporizer may be heat based, sonic based or other system. For example, a portable humidor may be employed or modified for this purpose. An electronic cigarette is essentially a cigarette shaped vaporizer and one could adapt an e-cigarette to operate as a flavor vaporizer within a cigarette package.

Diffusion will be must effective where the concentrated flavor is in proximate contact (which may but need not be in direct physical contact) with the tobacco articles in an enclosed space. That enclosed space may be the cigarette package itself—which are fairly well designed to reduce airflow and flavor transit with the “outside world.”

It may also be desirable to employ a further secondary packaging to close the system for efficient transfer via diffusion (and to avoid wasting flavor). For example, the flavor may be placed in a foil or plastic bag together with loose smoking articles. Or, the flavor may be placed into a cigarette pack and the cigarette pack itself may be placed in a foil or plastic bag, a glass jar, a closed plastic box or similar outer packaging with good barrier properties.

Now, we should discuss the flavor composition. The flavor may be imbued into a solid carrier agent via fluidized bed, similar methods or simple mixing or compression methods and the flavor granules poured loose into a cigarette container or other secondary package. Flow agents may be used in the composition for improved flow. Loose flavors in the form of powders and granules may be usefully packaged in a stick pack.

The flavor may be saturated into an absorbent material like a sponge, pad, filter like material or the like (the “flavor absorbent material”).

The flavor may be placed into a pill, a wafer, a disc, a liquid, a cream, a foam, a film or similar solid, semi-solid or liquid form suitable for either diffusing flavor. The flavor may be encapsulated in a soft gel or other breakable format such that the flavor release is achieved by breaking or opening the format. The flavor may be discharged in a gaseous state, for example from a pressurized canister.

The flavor may be placed—whether directly or via carrier agent or via flavor absorbent material into a device that can be placed in a cigarette container. The device may be shaped such that it is suitable for easy insertion into a cigarette pack that is either completely or partially full of cigarettes. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1A-1C, the device 1 may be shaped like a cigarette and used to replace one of the cigarettes 5 from the package 6 (most preferably a centrally located cigarette), as shown in FIG. 2A. The device might be a multi-portion device, with sections that could be exposed for flavoring a single cigarette pack, then a second section exposed for a second cigarette pack and so on. The device 1 may be made of an absorbent, porous material 2 in which the flavor is absorbed, as shown in FIG. 1A. Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 1B and 1C, the device may have a non-porous or semi-porous outer wall 3 (e.g., in the shape of a closed cylinder) with holes 4 to allow the flavor within the outer wall 3 to diffuse out of the device 1. In some embodiments, it is preferable for the holes 4 to become larger towards the bottom of the device as shown in FIG. 1B and/or for the holes 4 to get more numerous towards the bottom, as shown in FIG. 1C. Having the holes 4 becoming more numerous or larger toward bottom can be useful with a flavor, such as menthol, which is heavier than air.

The device may be sufficiently thin that it can be inserted without removing a cigarette (e.g. a thin rod, or other slimly profiled shape like a thin rectangle). Multiple devices may be simultaneously used, for stronger flavor or to help the user regulate flavor. The device or absorbent material 1′ may have an adhesive strip to allow it to be adhered to the inside of a standard cigarette pack 6 or hard box container lid.

Where the flavor is diffused or sublimes as a vapor with a vapor density of greater than one, it may be desirable to account for the propensity of the vapor to settle in a closed space. Thus, a preferred method for menthol would be to place the menthol device at the top of the package (which can be achieved by inverting the pack during flavor diffusion) and allow menthol to settle downwards. The propensity of menthol vapor to settle is known in bee keeping. See, for example, the attached sketch.

The opposite dynamic applies with vapors that have a vapor density of less than one (and hence rise in ambient air).

Waxes may be particularly useful as a flavor absorbent with predictable, prolonged release patterns. Waxes are especially suitable for volatiles and wax-shaped cylindrical devices are a favored embodiment. Cellulosic materials may also be desirable for such use.

The device may be shaped like a credit card such that it can be placed easily along one or more sides of the cigarette package. The placement of the vapor emitting segment of the device may be informed by the vapor density of any vapor it emits (as described above).

The cigarette container can then be heated or warmed to encourage diffusion as noted above. Note that microwave systems will generally not work where cigarettes are retained in the package because of the foil content in a standard cigarette pack, posing a fire risk. However, were loose cigarettes are to be flavored, the microwave may be useful.

The absorbent material, device or other composition 1″ may be alternatively shaped to best fit a secondary container 7, as shown by way of example only in FIG. 3. This may be particularly useful for a secondary container 7 used to flavor loose cannabis or other smoking material or objects. For example, a secondary container 7 could be designed to accept an absorbent material with flavor at the bottom, with a colander like surface above that could hold the cannabis (or tobacco). Of, the absorbent material could go into the sides of the container to be presented in a relatively uniform way to the cannabis. The secondary container 7 may be heated via a variety of means to encourage diffusion of the flavors. Or the flavor device may be simply be placed among the cannabis or other smoking material, preferably in a closed container 7. In some cases, it may be desirable to employ an energy source, such as a fan 8 to encourage diffusion/sublimation of the flavor into ambient air (and ultimately the smoking articles) by moving and concentrating the flavor through the closed container 7. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, a closed circuit may be provided to pump the flavor through the container 7. In the case of menthol, which is heavier than air, an outlet tube 9 is preferably connected at a bottom portion of the container 7 and the fan 8 pumps the flavor back through an inlet tube 10 to the top of the container 7 to facilitate concentration build-up.

The flavor device or flavor-containing absorbent material will generally be packaged in barrier type packaging to prevent to escape of volatiles. The escape of volatiles may further be retarded by including a secondary vapor source within the package itself such that the vapor concentration gradient within the packaging retards the escape of volatiles from the flavor device or absorbent material. For example (and without limitation), a menthol source may be placed in a packaged of mentholating devices so as to retard loss of menthol from the mentholating devices.

Where the device (or absorbent material) is intended to mentholate a standard pack of cigarettes, the device (or absorbent material) will preferably contain 8 mg of menthol or more, preferably 12 mg of menthol or more, and most preferably 16 mg of menthol of more.

The flavoring may also be added to discourage use of cigarettes for those who wish to quit smoking. For example, the flavor may be an unpleasant flavor that is not enjoyable to the user.

In a preferred embodiment, the menthol devices or absorbent material is sold in a container or bag that contains a second container or bag that is used for the flavor diffusion process.

Now, this invention is principally directed to the flavoring of manufactured cigarettes, but the present invention can also be used to flavor cigars, pipe ingredients, snuff, dip, other tobacco forms, as well as cannabis and cannabis derived products and other base alkaloids.

Some discussion of snuff flavoring is in order. Commercial snuff (or dip or SNUS) and similar smokeless products are flavored using a spray process where liquid flavors are applied at low temperature (to prevent flame) to tobacco in a mixer. Fairly extensive mixing is required in order to ensure a reasonable uniform application of flavor.

Now, commercially manufactured smokeless tobacco is most typically sold in round plastic or metal/cardboard tins. We expressly contemplate the use of a flavor device or flavor-infused absorbent material within such tins or containers (or other manufacturer smokeless packaging) to flavor the smokeless tobacco within the manufacturer supplied packaging. Such tin or other packaging may further be placed in a secondary container during the flavor diffusion process.

It is feasible to have a twin container, one for the tobacco or base alkaloid product and one for the flavor agent, both meeting in the vapor stream going to the user's mouth.

Example One Loose Clove Cigarette

A Scott paper towel used as absorbent material was saturated with Clove Bud Oil (manufacturer: Plant Therapy). The saturated absorbent material was placed in a ziploc bag together with five loose Marlboro® black cigarettes (bold flavor). The zip loc was sealed and placed in front of a closed window for ambient light/warmth for two days. After two days, the cigarettes were removed, examined and smoked. The demonstrated a strong, distinct clove flavor indicating successful diffusion of flavor from the absorbent material to the cigarettes.

Example Two Loose Menthol Cigarette

Placed five cigarettes (Marlboro® black, “bold flavor”)) in a foil sachet, together with 15 mg of USP menthol crystals (Spectrum chemical DL-menthol). The bag placed near window to be warmed by ambient flight. After one day, the cigarettes were removed. One was smoked, followed by—for comparison—a Marlboro® Black Menthol Flavor (standard from manufacturer) cigarette. The cigarette flavored with menthol through the current example demonstrated stronger menthol that the standard, Marlboro® menthol cigarette.

Example Three (Loose Cassis Cigarette)

A Scott paper towel used as absorbent material was saturated with Hiram Walker Crème de Cassis. The saturated absorbent material was placed in a ziploc bag together with five loose Marlboro® Black Cigarettes (bold flavor). The zip loc was sealed and placed in front of a closed window for ambient light/warmth for two days. After two days, the cigarettes were removed, examined and smoked. The demonstrated a mild Cassis flavor indicating successful diffusion of flavor from the absorbent material to the cigarettes. We believe a higher alcohol content (or otherwise a more volatile base) would have assisted to better diffuse the flavor into the cigarettes from the absorbent material.

Example Four Menthol Cylindrical Device

One cigarette was removed from the center of a pack of Marlboro® Gold Pack cigarettes. This cigarette was emptied, half filled with menthol crystals (Spectrum Chemical DL-menthol), was stapled shut and placed back into the cigarette container which was left to sit for one day in front of a window. Two cigarettes were tried from this pack; one from the side—i.e. as far away from the device as possible. The second cigarette tried was adjacent to the menthol device. Each cigarette has a strong menthol flavor and the adult user was not able to discern a different in menthol strength as between the two. For comparison, a third cigarette—a manufactured menthol Black Marlboro® was tried, and the user confirmed his perception that the device imparted a stronger menthol flavor than the manufactured menthol cigarette.

Example Five Injection Method

Several Marlboro® Black Bold Flavor cigarettes were removed from their package. McCormick Pure Coffee Extract was drawn into a syringe and then inserted via the syringe into five cigarettes. The filters were easily over-saturated and this pointed to the difficulty of an individual effectively metering a syringe. The flavoring of the products was successful but the filters tended to stain and the whole process (including the time required to inject each filter) seemed like a difficult “ask” for a user/consumer. It was noted that a controlled pipette device could be employed to deliver a controlled amount of liquid flavor to avoid the over-filling (and potentially avoid the staining) issues that were experienced in connection with this example.

Example Six Film Shaped Flavor System

A Listerine® Coolmint oral strip was removed from its container, and, slid into a Marlboro® Gold Pack. The film did not have sufficient flavor to diffuse flavor to the cigarettes in the pack, however, this example did show the viability of the film format for this purpose. However, it was observed that a less flexible format would be easier to insert than the highly flexible Listerine® film.

Example Seven Menthol Powder System

3 grams of menthol crystals were mixed with 3 grams of calcium carbonate (the latter to serve as a flow agent). A portion of the resulting mixture was poured into a pack of Marlboro® Gold Pack Cigarettes. The package was left on a car dashboard in the strong south Florida sun for several hours. It was then confirmed by an adult user that the cigarettes were effectively—and appeared to be uniformly-mentholated.

Example Eight Activated Diffusion of a Liquid Based Flavor System

This example utilized a Cigar Oasis XL Cigar Humidifier. This electronic device is designed to vaporize water in a humidor space to maintain the relatively high humidity levels necessary to prevent cigars from drying out over time.

Accordingly, this device is supposed to be filled with water. In this example, we filled it with Badia Dominican Style Vanilla, and set the device to maximum relative humidity, and placed the device, together with an open pack of Marlboro® Gold Pack cigarettes in a plastic bag, closing the bag around the Oasis XL's power cord.

The experiment was run for approximately thirty hours, and the Oasis was turned off and the cigarettes removed from the bag. The cigarette box head space had a pronounced vanilla odor when opened. When smoked the cigarettes had a mild vanilla flavor; the user observed that improved flavor could likely be achieved through the use of a more concentrated and volatile vanilla flavor.

By activate diffusion, we mean diffusion that is enhanced through an energy source.

Example Nine Flavor Device

We purchased a Vicks® brand nasal inhalator and disassembled the inhalator to gain access to the inhalator core. This core is a filter like sponge comprising the following listed ingredients: L Desoxyephedrine, Special Vicks Vapors Bornyl Acetate, Camphor, Lavender Oil, and Menthol. Using a scissors, the core was cut into two halves; one half was discarded and the other was placed in a pack of Marlboro® Gold cigarettes. The pack of cigarettes was intentionally not placed in any secondary packaging; the cigarette top was simply closed. After two days, the cigarettes had a distinct and strong camphor flavor (which was not a great smoke, presumably explaining the absence of “camphor” cigarettes.

Example Ten Reusable Flavor Device

After the successful flavoring of Example 9 was confirmed, the same half core was placed in a second, new package of Marlboro® Gold Cigarettes. The core half remained sufficiently strong to additionally flavor this second package of cigarettes, again with the camphor flavor, though the flavoring did not seem as intense as the previously flavored samples as in Example 9.

Example Eleven Filter Rod Device in Cigarette Pack

Uncut filter rods of approximately 120 mm in length and containing 8 mg of menthol (stronger than a conventional filter) were sourced from a ragweed processor. One of the uncut rods was cut down to cigarette length of approximately 85 mm, and the paper wrapper was removed from this tube, and the tube was placed in a package of Marlboro® Gold Pack cigarettes. The package was left to sit for approximately thirty hours (without a secondary bag, i.e. relying on the barrier properties of the cigarette pack itself). The cigarettes were smoked by an adult user and found to be distinctly menthol flavored, though it was observed that greater menthol concentration in the filter material would have created a better result. It was further observed that the removal of the outer paper to the filter paper resulted in a modest physical diffusion of the internal filter material, and that the use of a tube paper with holes (for example an without limitation, laser cut holes) would result in satisfactory diffusion performance while retaining physical integrity of the tube (by allowing the outer paper to be retained by the user). It was further observed that, as an alternative to holes, an uncut/unpuctured porous paper filter paper might be used to encourage diffusion without the need to remove the filter paper from the device-rod. For example, the filter paper will preferably half pores greater than 2 nm, preferably greater than 20 nm and most preferably greater than 50 nm.

Example Twelve Filter Rod Device in a Smokeless in

The paper wrapper was removed from one of the uncut rods described in Example Eleven, and the resulting rod was placed into a plastic tin of TimberWolf® long cut straight tobacco (sold by Pinkerton Tobacco Company).

While the fit was a little tight, it was fairly easy to close the manufacturer's lid on the full container (i.e. without any of the tobacco removed). Tobacco was sampled after twelve hours, and demonstrated a pronounced menthol smell and taste, thereby successfully demonstrating the use of the diffusion method within a standard manufacturer supplied package. 

We claim:
 1. A device for flavoring a smoking article via diffusion.
 2. A device for flavoring a smoking article, comprising a support and a composition containing a flavor provided on or in the support, the composition containing the flavor being configured to be vaporizable.
 3. The device according to claim 3, further comprising a container configured to hold the support including the composition containing the flavor and at least one smoking article.
 4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the at least one smoking article is a manufactured cigarette.
 5. The device according to claim 3, wherein the at least one smoking article is a cannabis cigarette.
 6. The device according to claim 2, further comprising means for active diffusion of the flavor.
 7. The device according to claim 3, wherein the container is a cigarette package.
 8. The device according to claim 3, wherein the container is a secondary container or bag.
 9. The device according to claim 2, wherein the flavor is menthol.
 10. The device according to claim 2, wherein the support includes an adhesive strip configured to allow the support to be adhered to the inside of a standard cigarette pack or container.
 11. The device according to claim 2, wherein the support is reusable.
 12. The device according to claim 2, wherein the support is cylindrical in shape
 13. The device according to claim 2, wherein the support is a porous material impregnated with the flavor.
 14. A method for flavoring a smoking article, comprising inserting a support in a container, the support having a composition containing a flavor provided on or in the support, the composition containing the flavor being configured to be vaporizable, and providing at least one smoking article in the container.
 15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising actively vaporizing the composition.
 16. The method according to claim 15, wherein, actively vaporizing the composition comprises heating the composition.
 17. The method according to claim 14, wherein the at least one smoking article is a manufactured cigarette.
 18. The method according to claim 14, wherein the at least one smoking article is a cannabis cigarette.
 19. The method according to claim 14, wherein the container is a cigarette package in which at least one smoking article has been provided.
 20. The method according to claim 14, wherein the container is a secondary container or bag.
 21. The method according to claim 14, wherein the flavor is menthol.
 22. The method according to claim 14, wherein the support is cylindrical in shape
 23. The method according to claim 14, wherein the support is a porous material impregnated with the flavor. 